How the road evolved

The origins of the road are intimately linked to the development of the Kennet & Avon Canal, which reached the old road to Claverton (now called Bathwick Hill) in 1800 and opened through to the Avon in November 1810. Meanwhile, in 1808, William Henry Vane, 3rd Earl of Darlington (and later Duke of Cleveland), inherited the Pulteney estates and set about extending residential development of the Bathwick area.

Sydney Buildings is listed as a street name in Bath Directory for 1819. Inhabitants then included:
1 – W[alter] Harris, builder
2 - J. Harris [son of Walter], builder, sculptor and modeller; also N[athaniel] Newport, builder
3 - Mrs. Clapham (a Mr. Clapham was living at No.9 in 1826)
5 - Miss Roberts ( a Miss Roberts is also listed as living at Sydney Cottage)
7 – Webber (no initial), corn dealer
8 – Rev. H Arnold
also Rev. T. Clarke (no number)



Notes from national census returns, concentrating on northern half of the road

1841 – 36 houses, 2 uninhabited
At No. 7 J.L. Huntley, engineer, age given as 60(actually 65) and wife Ann (then 62)
At No. 9 John Mott (beerseller) and wife – first indication of a tavern
At no. 11 coal merchant, At no. 12 coal porter, “adjoining” no. 14 four coal porters

1851 – 37 houses
J.L.Huntley (listed as retired engraver) still at No. 7 with his wife Ann
At no.10 Retailer of beer , John Smith, 25, and his father, a retired publican
At. no. 11 coal merchant, at no. 12 coal wharf foreman and labourers

1861 – 37 houses, with No.37= Bathwick Dairy, Rogers family
John Huntley now at no. 9 with Ann Forshaw (friend)
No. 10 John Smith as above (Bathwick Tavern)
No. 11 Frederick Spenser, coal merchant employing 3 clerks, 6 labourers and 1 boy
No. 12 George Shewring, coal merchant’s foreman

1871 – 36 houses, no dairy listed
At No. 10 Bathwick Tavern now run by John Chapple
The next building listed is a Malthouse, with Thos. Connery, Maltster
Nos. 11 and 12 occupied by a coal merchant (George Dyke) and a coal merchant’s manager (Thos. Hawkins). Present-day candidates these numbers are 21/22 and 23/23a.

1881 – 36 houses plus Rosemount (?). No info for nos. 4,5,10, 27,29,32
George Dyke still at no. 11 (now listed as coal merchant and farmer of 113 acres).His foreman William Verrier at no. 13. No. 16 was called Sydney House (today’s no.29).

1891
No. 10 now occupied by retired newspaper proprietor Catherine Bellaby
Next listed are St. Ronan’s, Brighton Villa, and Eton Villa – today’s nos. 14, 15 and 16.
Following them are no. 11 (no info), no.12 (Charles Caseley and others) and no. 13 (Martha Trask and others).

1901
No. 1 (Raby House) was to let. There were long-term occupants at nos. 2(Hotham), 3 (Gibbs) , 5 (Grove), 6 (Titley); also, beyond the cut-through, at nos. 17 (Winnegar) and 18 (Stillman). Today's no. 12* was returned under the name GrundyLodge
Further along the road, today’s nos. 26 and 27 were returned as 1 and 2 Kelston View.
The cut-through remained between old nos. 16 and 17.

*The title deeds show that the plot was bought by Richard James Martin (a developer or builder, presumably) in June 1881 and that the first owner of Grundy Lodge, Emily Louise Trotter, took possession in December 1884 and retained it for 39 years until October 1923. Her address at the time of the purchase is given simply as St. Ronan’s, suggesting that she was renting today’s no.14 until no.12 was finished and available to her.